Harvestfest 2023 Raises Record-Breaking Funds

Harvestfest 2023, the flagship fundraising event for Arts For Rural Texas (ARTS), marked its 20th anniversary with unparalleled success, raising a record-breaking amount for the organization. The event, held on November 4 in Fayetteville, celebrated two decades of ARTS’ commitment to enriching lives through art and art education, with an emphasis on providing opportunities for children.

This year’s Harvestfest was a visual and cultural feast, adorned with blues and whites to complement the captivating Autumn Wolf’s (age 16) watercolor painting of a three tier birthday cake, which served as the event’s invitation art. Attendees were treated to a spectacular evening that featured a fine art auction showcasing works from local, regional, and statewide artists. Bids soared from $1,700 to an impressive $7,100, reflecting the generosity and commitment of the community.

The auction block also featured exclusive experiences, including a dinner party for eight with former Governor Rick Perry and former County Judge Joe Weber, a clay-shoot for 20 with a fajita dinner, and a night of music, art, and fine dining for 16 at the historic Ilse-Rau house in Columbus, among other unique opportunities.

The “Birthday Wish Wall” drew additional support, resulting in 13 sponsorships for Art After School classes, 18 Arts Summer Camp scholarships, four Fine Arts Assemblies in rural schools, sponsorship for five Art Teachers, funding for six sewing machines for quilting classes, and underwriting three Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions for digital art classes.

In recognition of her outstanding service, long-time ARTS board member Alisa Rowe was honored as the chair-emeritus for Harvestfest. Mrs. Rowe received a customengraved Waterford clock that read, “Every moment given is a gift well spent,” acknowledging her 17 years of dedicated leadership and support for the event.

A special acknowledgment goes to The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation, which generously provided a matching grant of $62,000 for the paddles-up donation appeal.

ARTS Events Director, Kevin White, expressed gratitude, stating, “This year’s Harvestfest was certainly one of the best ever! From an amazing dinner by Cotton Culinary to the decorations by Glamfetti and our fabulous committee, it was a fabulous evening. But the real difference that makes our event such a wonderful evening is the community that supports our mission!”

While final figures are still being calculated, it is confirmed that Harvestfest 2023 raised more funds for ARTS than any previous year, underscoring the unwavering commitment of the community to the organization’s mission.